District 8 Update #34 – HRM Parking changes, Short term rental regulations, 2020 Election information, Fair Wage/Living Wage and Social Value Framework, Taking BLK Gottingen and more!

Hello all,

At the time of sending this update Hurricane Teddy is currently categorized to arrive to Nova Scotia as a Tropical Storm, make sure you are registered for hfxALERT, to receive urgent and non-urgent public alerts by phone, email or text.  Important notifications and information on Muncipal services related to the Hurricane can be found here. https://www.halifax.ca/fire-police/fire/emergency-management/hurricanes

Stay Safe!


List of events and notices – here’s what is included:

Update:

  • Response to COVID-19: Halifax Mobility Response – Streets and Spaces
  • HRM Parking Changes
  • Upcoming Regional Council meeting
  • Centre Plan Package B
  • 2020 Election information
  • Heritage hearing – Request to include 2539 Agricola Street (The Open Mic House) in the Municipal Registry of Heritage Properties
  • Heritage Hearing – Request to include 2500 Creighton Street (Morris House), in the Municipal Registry of Heritage Properties
  • Taking BLK Gottingen – September 26th

Items of Interest:

  • RoadWorks Map (Sidewalk/street Closures & Disruptions)
  • Sign up for hfxALERT
  • Road Safety Dashboard
  • Halifax Water Board Reports
  • North End Business Association
  • Quinpool Road Business Association
  • Board of Police Commissioners – Next meeting: Sept 21st, 12:30pm | Virtual Meeting
  • Regional Council – Next meeting: Tuesday, Sept 22nd, 10:00am | Virtual Meeting
  • Regional Centre Community Council – Next meeting: Wednesday, Sept 23rd 6:00pm | Virtual Meeting
  • Halifax and West Community Council – Next meeting: Thursday, Sept 24th 6:00pm | Virtual Meeting
  • Community Planning & Economic Development – Next meeting: Monday, Sept 28 1:00-3:00 | City Hall

Contact me:
Phone: 902-579-6975
Email: Lindell.Smith@halifax.ca
Website: www.LindellSmithHfx.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindellSmithHFX/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindellSmithHFX

311 – HRM’s Call Centre
HRM’s call centre is open 8am-8pm Mon-Fri, 9am-5:30pm weekends to respond to routine inquiries and complaints from HRM residents. Please use this service since it helps HRM keep track of issues that are of concern for residents (missed solid waste pickup, sidewalks not cleared, transit info or complaints, etc.) For more information please visit http://www.halifax.ca/311/

Please send your feedback on issues before Community Council and Regional Council – and on any municipal issue. If you would like to send your comments to all Regional Councillors please email the Clerk’s Office (clerks@halifax.ca) so that your comments are shared and are part of the public record.

If you would like to send events or information to be possibly included in my e-newsletter, please email with the subject line “E-Newsletter”


Update:

Covid-19 Related Information

Response to COVID-19: Halifax Mobility Response – Streets and Spaces
The first phase of the Halifax Mobility Response plan began earlier this week with the widening of sidewalks in high traffic areas, traffic signal modification and the implementation of temporary loading spaces for businesses in downtown Halifax and Dartmouth. Learn more about these changes, here.

HRM Parking
You may have noticed that that parking has changed around the municipality. You will continue to see the removal of meters and the installation of new paid parking signage. There has been some confusion that the change to zoning will mean all areas will turn to paied parking, this is not the case. Residential areas that have historically had timed parking and permit parking will not see a change.  Learn more here:

https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/parking/parking-is-changing

Upcoming Regional Council meeting
Our next Regional Council meeting will be a busy one! We have two Council meetings scheduled before the October election and there are many items to look out for. I will list some below:


HRM Meetings/Updates

Centre Plan Package B
HRM is currently in the process of completing Centre Plan Package B is the second part of the Centre Plan that will replace all of the existing established residential zoning in Dartmouth inside the Circumferential, and Peninsula Halifax, create new zoning for Park and institutional areas, and update the Downtown Halifax Plan.

To still be able to gather feedback from residents, the Centre Plan team has created a series of surveys. Fill out the surveys and provide feedback here.

2020 Election information
The 2020 elections for Mayor, Council, as well as the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial will be held on Saturday, October 17th with telephone and electronic voting running from October 6th to 14th. Advanced Polling dates are October 10th and 13th.

Make sure you are on the voters list or to make any necessary changes by calling 902-490-VOTE (8683) or you can use the Online Voters’ List search tool, to verify if you are on the Voters’ List.

Due to COVID-19, the election candidate workshop is being hosted virtually this year for anyone interested in running for a seat on Halifax Regional Council or the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial. The 30-minute presentation will touch on everything from how to get nominated, key dates leading up to the Oct. 17, 2020 election, and what time commitments can be expected both in running for office, and after being elected. No sign-up is required, and potential candidates can take part at their own pace.

For more information, visit Halifax.ca/election


Public Hearings

Virtual Heritage Hearing – Request to include 2539 Agricola Street (The Open Mic House) in the Municipal Registry of Heritage Properties
Tuesday September 22nd,2020 1:00pm
Case H00480 – Request to Include 2539 Agricola Street, Halifax in the Registry of Heritage Property for the Halifax Regional Municipality

Virtual Heritage Hearing – Request to include 2500 Creighton Street (Morris House), Halifax in the Municipal Registry of Heritage Properties
Tuesday September 22nd, 2020 1:00pm
Case H00484 – Request to Include 2500 Creighton Street, Halifax in the Municipal Registry of Heritage Properties


Community Events:

Taking BLK Gottingen – September 26th
Gottingen Street is being taken over by local Black Businesses inside of various Gottingen Street business locations! These businesses will offer food, fashion, wellness products and more.
Saturday September 26th 12pm – 5pm

Taking BLK Gottingen Poster – September 26th

Items of Interest:

RoadWorks Map (Sidewalk/street Closures & Disruptions)
View the RoadWorks map to see current and upcoming sidewalk and street closures.

Sign up for hfxALERT
hfxALERT is our mass notification system for the municipality, keeping residents informed about emergencies and operations updates. Sign up here

Road Safety Dashboard
Provides residents with updates regarding the actions outlined in the Strategic Road Safety Framework. Track the progress the municipality is making as we work together to accomplish our Toward Zero goal.
https://www.halifax.ca/transportation/streets-sidewalks/road-safety/road-safety-dashboard

Halifax Water Board Reports
Please find below the link that will take you to the location where all of the Halifax Water Board meeting reports are posted (with the exception of In-Camera reports
https://www.halifax.ca/home-property/halifax-water/about-your-water/board-commissioners

North End Business Association
For an update on what is happening with businesses in the north end please visit the North End Business Association http://gonorthhalifax.ca/  and sign up for their monthly email.

Quinpool Road Business Association
For an update on what is happening with businesses on Quinpool Road please visit their website: www.quinpoolroad.ca/
https://quinpool.shop/


My other Committee and Board commitments:

Regional Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council
Next meeting: Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020, 10:00am | Virtual Meeting

Regional Centre Community Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/community-councils/regional-centre-community-council
Next meeting: Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020 6:00pm | Virtual Meeting

Halifax and West Community Council
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/community-councils/halifax-west-community-council
Next meeting: Thursday, September 24th, 2020 6:00pm | Virtual Meeting

Community Planning & Economic Development
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/standing-committees/community-planning-economic-development-standing-committee
Next meeting: Monday, September 28, 2020 1:00-3:00 | City Hall

Halifax Peninsula Planning Advisory Committee https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/h/halifax-peninsula-planning-advisory-committee 

Community Design Advisory Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/a-c/community-design-advisory-committee

Transportation Standing Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/standing-committees/transportation-standing-committee

Board of Police Commissioners
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/a-c/board-police-commissioners

Next meeting: September 21st 2020, 12:30pm | Virtual Meeting

HRM Grants Committee
https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/boards-committees-commissions/d-g/grants-committee

Halifax Forum
http://www.halifaxforum.ca/